🇺🇸 US Confirms Deadly Strikes on Islamic State in Nigeria
The United States has confirmed launching a series of deadly airstrikes against Islamic State (IS) targets in northwestern Nigeria, marking a significant escalation in counterterrorism operations in the region.
Former US President Donald Trump announced the strikes, describing them as “powerful and precise,” and said they were aimed at eliminating extremist threats linked to the Islamic State.
✈️ Joint US–Nigeria Military Operation
According to the US Africa Command (AFRICOM), the airstrikes were conducted in coordination with Nigerian authorities and targeted terrorist positions in Sokoto State.
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, confirmed that the mission was a jointly planned security operation, stressing that it was intelligence-led and not motivated by religious considerations.
“This operation has nothing to do with any religion. It targets terrorists threatening national security,” Tuggar said.
🔍 Claims of Religious Targeting Disputed
Trump claimed that Islamic State fighters were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria. However, Nigerian officials and independent monitoring groups strongly dispute this narrative.
Research organizations and human rights groups report that victims of extremist violence in Nigeria include Muslims, Christians, and people of other beliefs, with no credible evidence of one religious group being disproportionately targeted.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has repeatedly emphasized that Nigeria’s security crisis affects all communities across regions and faiths.
🤝 Continued Security Cooperation with the US
Nigeria’s foreign ministry stated that the country remains committed to structured security partnerships with international allies, including the United States, to combat terrorism and violent extremism.
Officials did not rule out future joint operations, noting that further action would depend on decisions by both governments.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly thanked the Nigerian government for its cooperation, signaling continued military collaboration.
⚠️ Nigeria’s Complex Security Landscape
Nigeria has faced more than a decade of violence from armed groups such as Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), particularly in the northeast.
In addition, long-running conflicts between herders and farming communities in central Nigeria have caused thousands of deaths, driven largely by competition over land and resources rather than religion.
Analysts warn that oversimplifying Nigeria’s crisis as a religious conflict risks misunderstanding the root causes and undermining effective solutions.
🌍 Wider US Military Campaigns
The strike in Nigeria follows recent US military actions elsewhere. Just days earlier, Washington confirmed carrying out extensive airstrikes against Islamic State targets in Syria, involving fighter jets, attack helicopters, and allied forces.